Power take-off mechanism



July 4, 1950 3, w, KEEsE ETAL POWER TAKE-OFF MECHANISM 4 She'ets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1946 a 6 5 w K W v, f w 8 B I..- NE q uni mm M Q Q -2. in :F::m r $5-; gm. M a m2 Char/es A. Cook INVENTORS y 1950 B. w. KEESE ETAL POWER TAKE-OFF MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n H I I! 9 1 p 3 2 l l m. A d e 1 1 F a e s w k w W a V 8 B Char/es A. Coo/r INVENTORS JM ATTORNEYS Patented July 4, 1950 2,513,333 rowan TAKE-OFF mncnm sm Beverly W. Keene and Charles A. Cook, Oshkosh, Wis., assignors to The Timken-Detrolt Axle Company, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Ohio Application April 23, 1946, Serial No. 664,185

2 Claim.

This invention relates to power take-off mechanisms for tractors or other motor-driven vehicles operable simultaneously with the vehicle driving mechanism or independently thereof.

When a tractor is used to pull another vehicle, and at the same time drive a mechanism carried by said vehicle from the tractor power plant, such as a combine the engine is sometimes stalled in initiating movement of the tractor and other vehicle and simultaneously transmitting motion to the parts of the mechanism carried by said vehicle.

When a combine, or a similar mechanism, is being operated by a tractor, prevailing conditions, such as varying density of the crop being harvested, frequently necessitate a change in the forward speed of the machine, without changing the speed of the harvesting mechanism.

It is accordingly the salient object and pur- I. pose of the present invention, to provide a power take-off mechanism for a motor-driven tractor or other vehicle equipped with a power-transmission clutch operative to connect or disconnect the vehicle driving mechanism with or from the power plant, together with means directly associated with the clutch and operative to transmit live power to the take-off mechanism in the engaged or disengaged position of clutch. Thusthe operation of the mechanism carried by a vehicle drawn by the tractor may be initiated prior to the forward motion of the tractor and vehicle, and such mechanism may. be operated concurrently with the movement of the tractor and vehicle, or while the tractor-driving mechanism is disconnected from the power source.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel power take-off mechanism driven at a speed directly proportional to' the engine speed regardless of changes in the driving speed of the tractor or other vehicle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple and reliably functioning means to adapt a standard type of clutch for the continuous transmission of live power to the auxiliary mechanism being operated, while said clutch functions in the usual manner to interrupt transmission of power to the vehicle driving mechanism, at the will of the operator.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a power take-off mechanism as above characterized, designed as accessory equipment which may be readily mounted in operative position on the vehicle when its use is required.

It is still another object of the present inven- (Cl. id-45.84)

gear unit mounted on the rear end of the tractor or other vehicle which operates to appreciably reduce the torque load on the long power take-- 011 drive shaft extending to the front of the vehicle where it is operatively connected with the power transmission clutch mechanism.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of a power-reduction gear box for the take-off mechanism at the rear of the vehicle, together with a clutch of novel construction in said gear box for interrupting the drive therethrough.

In general, our invention provides a power take-off mechanism for tractors and other vehicles having the several novel features above enumerated, which is distinguished by simplicity of construction, high emciency operation, and comparatively low production cost.

These and other objects will be apparent upon consideration of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one general assembly of vehicle drive units provided with a selected embodiment of our present invention. I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the clutch mechanism and powertransmitting connections with the vehicle transmission driving shaft and the driving shaft of the power take-off mechanism.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 33' of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the power take-off reduction gear box, taken substantially on the line 6--6 of Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a rear end elevation of the reduction gear box.

Figure 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line H of Figure 1 and Figure 9 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-4 of Figure 6.

Referring in further detail to the drawings, in Figure 1 thereof, we have illustrated one general assembly of the driving units mounted in the body or frame of a tractor or other vehicle in any approved manner. For purposes of illustlon to provide a power take-oil and reduction tration, we have shown a housing structure 6 enclosing the variable speed transmission and final drive mechanism, the latter being operatively connected with-the vehicle wheel shafts,

one of which is indicated at 1. A coupling housing 4 extends forwardly from the housing structure 6 and in advanceof this housing 4 a power transmission clutch :unitj is associated w th the transmission drive shaft and flywheel-3 suitably,

fixed to the rear end of the engine shaft 5. A speed reduction gear box 8, to be presently more shaft 62 which extends longitudinally through ,f-the' housin structure and at its rear end terminates within the reduction gear box 8.

fully described, is mounted on the rear end of the housing structure 6.

The unit 2. is a normally engaged standard type of friction clutch and 'irrcludes tl e'clutch. fingers I9 pivotally mounted upon studs I2 fixed at. one of their ends in the wall of housing I4 and slidably supporting at their other ends ,a'

pressure plate I8. The marginal-flange I of housing I4 is suitably secured to the face of the flywheel 3. Pressure plate I8 engages friction facing I1 of a. clutch disk I8 mounted on a hubsleeve [9 splined or otherwise non-rotatably mounted on the forward end of the transmission drive shaft 28.

A relatively rotatable tubular shaft 22 surrounds the shaft in concentric relation thereto and is journalled at its rearend in a bearing 24 mounted in the front wall 26 of coupling housing 4. A spider 28 is splined or otherwise nonrotatably secured on the forward end of the shaft 22, eacharm 39 of said spider carrying a pin 32 at its outer end, said pins being equidistantly spaced from the axes of shafts 29 and 22 and in axial parallelism therewith. As shown in Figure 2, the spider 28 is removably held against axial movement on shaft 22 by conventional snap rings. It will be noted from reference to Fig- .ure 2 of the drawings that the spider arms 30 are preferably obliquely inclined relative to the plane of the spider hub and the pins 32 have close-fitting engagement through registering openings in the wall of housing member I4 and in the reinforcing plates 35 which are riveted, welded or otherwise secured at their ends to the wall of said housing member. Within the clutch housing springs 36 each bearat one end against the pressure plate I6 and surround the pins-32 at the other end in bearing contact with the wall of housing member l4.

Pins 38, corresponding in number to the number of clutch fingers III, are slidably mounted in apertures in the hub of the spider 28. These pins atone of their ends are provided with heads 31 for bearing contact against the inner ends of the respective fingers I0 and at their other ends have :contact with a thrust bearin 42 carried by'a collar 49 slidably mounted on the hub extension 44 of thefianged cap member 46 secured to the wall 28 of housing 4 and which retains bearing 24 against outward axial movement therefrom.

From this description, it will be readily seen that by means of spider 28 and pins 32, shaft 22 and the parts of the clutch mechanism mounted on flywheel 3 are connected against relative rotation. Any conventional manually operable means may be provided for shifting the collar 49 to actuate the clutch fingers I0 and As shown most clearly in Figure 6 of the drawings, the reduction gear box includes two ,sections, 66 and 68 having meeting flanges bolted together as at 61 to form a compartment housing the reduction gearing and the clutch mechanism for the transmission of power to the final power take-off, shaft. The rear end of shaft 62 \is journalled in a bearing 64 mounted in the wall of housing section 66. Within the gear box the gear 10 is keyed or otherwise fixed to the end of shaft 62 and is in constant mesh with the gear- 12 non-rotatively splined or. otherwise secured upon the forward end of the clutch shaft 14 which is journalled in bearing 16 mounted in the wall of gear box section 66'. The other or rear end of thisclutch shaft is journalled in bearing 18 similarly mounted in the wall of gear box section 68.

At the rear side of gear 12, a gear 80 is loosely mounted on clutch shaft 14, and to this gear the housing 82 for a friction clutch assembly 84 is non-rotatively secured. The clutch assembly includes springs 9| in housings on disk 89 having pressure contact with plate 88. This plate is formed with boss 81:0n which disk 89 is supported for movements towards and from the plate 88. Movement of disk 89 in one direction under the pressure of springs 9| is limited by the stop 93 secured to the end of boss 81 by bolt 95 and movablein an elongated opening provided in the wall of housing 82. A stud 91 fixed to the disk 89 adjacent to stop 93 projects outwardly through said opening in the housing wall. A link 90 is pivotally mounted intermediate its'ends on the housing 82 and is provided at one end thereof with a roller 92 bearing against the stud 91. This end of link 90 is connected with one end of link 94, the other end of which is pivotally condisconnect the transmission drive shaft 20 from nected to a slidable sleeve 96 on the clutch shaft 14. This sleeve at one of its ends has an external groove looselyreceivin collar 98 which is provided at diametrically opposite points with trunnions I00. A clutch fork I04 is fixed to one end of an actuating member or shaft I06 journalled in a bearing box I88 provided on the wall of the rear section 68 of the gear box. The arms I I0 of this fork at their ends are operatively connected with the respective trunnions I09 on the collar 98.

' To the output shaft II4 of the take-01f unit, large gear H2 is splined or otherwise fixed and is in constant mesh with the clutch gear 80. At its forward'endthis shaft is journalled in hearing H5 mounted in the {wall of gear box section 68. This shaft extends through the wall of gear box section 88 .where it is alsojour'nalled in bearing II8, the rearwardlyv extending end-of said shaft being splined as indicated at I20 or provided with other suitable means for coupling connection with the mechanism to be driven thereby.

Referring now to Figure: 8 of the drawings, the transmission drive shaft I320 is journalled by bearing I 24 mounted in theintermediate wall I22 of the coupling housing 4. on said shaft ad- 4=and hascits shaftdisposednormal to the axis ofashaftzland provided withabevelgear I24 in constant mesh .withthe gear m. As seen in Figurell of;=the drawingsrthe'pump Ill'is supplied with the hydraulic medium through the inlet line I22 from a suitable reservoir, for which purposertheninterior of housing 4 may conveniently I; be employed. The hydraulic medium is supplied under pressure by pump I through the line. ll4 toithe .mechanism or implement to be operated thereby andis returned to the cylinder 15 of the pump throug'h thelinelfl. The hydraulic medium is returned from the pump to the reservoir through line I".

Diametrically opposite to the pump I", a gear I40 in constant mesh with gear I26, is fixed to'ao one end of the shaft I42 which is iournalled in the opposite ends of a. bearing sleeve I46 detache ably mounted at the end thereof adjacent gear I40 in an opening in a side wall of housing 4.

To the other end of the shaft I42 a belt drive as pulley I44 is suitably fixed.

In the operation of the above-described mec anism, assuming that a combine or other vehicle is connected to the rear end of the tractor and mechanism carried by said vehicle is operatively so hicle for operation with or independently of the coupled to the power take-oil shaft II4; before starting the'engine, the operator first moves the collar 40 forwardly. Pins 38 are thus movedforwardly through the hub of spider 28 to actuate the clutch fingers I l and move pressure plate It 88 rearwardly a ainst the resistance of springs 36 to relieve the pressure of clutch disk I8 against the face of the flywheel 3. Thus, when the engine is started, no power will be transmitted through the transmission drive shaft 20 to the to shaft 22, this shaft will be rotated to transmit 45 power through the gears and to the power take-off drive shafts 52 and 62. Gear II on shaft 62 drives gear 12 and shaft I4 and with clutch assembly 22-26 in engaged position gear I I2 and power take-off shaft II4.

After disengaging clutch 2 or shifting the change speed transmission to neutral to render the tractor driving mechanism inoperative, with clutch 84 in disengaged position, the engine is 56 started to drive shafts 52, 62 and I4 as above explained.

- Power is transmitted through the reduction gearing'from shaft 14 to shaft m by operating member I26 to shift sleeve 96 to the left from $0 the position shown in Figure 6. Roller 92 is thus moved by toggle links SOs-94 to urge plate 89 inwardly and compress springs 8| which in turn' compress disk assembly 88 and establishes a solid connection between said disk assembly fixed to 65 at the proper speed while the tractor is stationary and before it advances into the grain or other crop. Clutch 2 is then engaged to operate shaft 20 and the tractor driving mechanism at any desired ground speed. of course, there is a continued, uninterrupted transmission of power to 7| shaft m and the combine oi other auxiliary mechanism through the tubular shaft 22 which continues to rotate as a unit with shaft 22 by reason of its connection, as above described, with the flywheel carried parts of clutchunit 2.

Operation of shaft I I4 and the auxiliary mechanism coupled therewith may be discontinued at any time independently of clutch unit 2 by shifting sleeve 96 to the right so that the parts of clutch 84 will resume the positions shown in Figure 6 and break the driving connection between shaft 14 and gear 8|.

It will be seen that the present invention pro-- vides a take-on redhction gear unit and clutch assembly together with shaft 42 as an accessory which may be readily mounted in operative position by the owner of the tractor or vehicle and coupled to shaft 52. when the power take-oif' is not in use, the opening at the rear end of housing structure 6 may be closed by means of a suitable cover plate. Similarly the hydraulic pump assembly III] and pulley assembly I44 may be supplied as accessory units which may be readily mounted in operative position as required and drivingly connected with gear I26 on transmission drive shaft 20.

From the foregoing description it will also be appreciated that we have provided a power takeoff assembly which may be readily applied to a conventional tractor or other motor driven vevehicle driving mechanism, without requiring material structural alterations of the standard type power transmission clutch The several cooperating elemenis employed are of rugged and durable structural form, so that maximum operating emciency with low maintenance expense will be realized.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential" characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated bythe appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

is rotated as a unit with shaft I4 to drive gear 50 What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent .is:

1. In a vehicle having a variable speed transmission, a final drive mechanism for the vehicle wheels and a power take-oil assembly arranged in longitudinal succession and enclosed in a housing, an engine driven flywheel, a transmission drive shaft having a releasable clutch connection with said flywheel, a power take-oil drive shaft journaled at opposite ends in a. forward housing;

wall and in an internal wall rearwardly of said final drive mechanism and projecting through said internal wall, said power take-oil drive shaft extending through said housing independently of said transmission, a sleeve coaxial with said transmission shaft constantly drive connected at opposite ends to said flywheel and said power take-off drive shaft whereby the latter may be driven while the clutch is disengaged, a rotatable power take-oft shaft projecting from the rear of said housing, and clutch mechanism rearwardly of said internal wall interposed between said power take-off drive shaft and said power takeoff shaft.

2. In the vehicle defined in claim 1, said internal wall comprising part of a removable rear clo'sii'r for the final drive mechanism chamber of said housing, and a cover for said power take-oi! assembly removably secured upon said closure and constituting the rear end of said housing.

BEVERLY w. KEESE. 5 CHARLES A. coox. REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the u file of this patent:

; UNITED STATES PATENTS Number' Name Date 1,225,202 Ahle May 8, 191'! 1,587,205 whitten June 1, 1926 is Number Name Date Horste May 24, 1932 Wood June 5, 1934 Heitshu Mar. 5, 1935 Storey Mar.'24, 1936 Brown Dec. 20, 1938 Le Tourneau' Sept. 10, 1940 West Apr. 8, 1941 Padgett June 10, 1941 Stump! June 23, 1942 Giflord June 23, 1942 Lorimor July 21, 1942 Lapsley Apr. 25, 1944 Orelind May 30, 1944 Land June 2'7, 1944 

